Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 06:1 (Fall 2019)
Article: The Third Heading: Human Corruption
Author: Keith A. Evans

RPTJ 6:1 (Fall 2019) p. 33

The Third Heading:
Human Corruption

Keith A. Evans

Professor of Biblical Counseling

Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Introduction

As the professor of Biblical Counseling, and not as one trained in history, nor systematic theology, it may rightly be wondered what a practical theologian may contribute to the present consideration of the 400th anniversary of the Calvinist/Arminian controversy in the Church in the Netherlands. Yet, if a professor of counseling is to take up a particular head of doctrine under the Canons of Dort, it would make the most sense he be given charge over Dort’s anthropology. The question of: “who is man?” is of utmost importance to the field of counseling, and thus, the third head of doctrine finds itself directly connected to this author’s particular field of study.

The purpose of the present treatment is not to rehash the contents of the Canons, for that would occupy the entirety of the article itself. Instead the goal of this paper is to provide the theological undergirding of the third head of doctrine, along with the Synod’s affirmations and respective rejections; in order that the present reader may take up the Canons, and thereby have a fuller appreciation of what the Synod was aiming to do — specifically what they understood they were affirming and what they comprehended they were rejecting.

One further caveat at the outset itself on the language of the “Remonstrants” and the “Contra-Remonstrants.” “Arminians” and “Calvinists” are regularly employed surrounding this historical debate and the present paper will likewise use such terminology interchangeably. That said, it should be made known the wishes of the Synod of Dort itself, when it declared in its judgments – the written conclusions after the multi-year deliberations – when they said:

[S]ome, who are gone out from among us, calling themselves Remonstrants (which word, as well as that of Contraremonstrants, the Synod wills and requires to be buried in perpetual oblivion) have …1

Since it was the will of the faithful ecumenical assembly, that the name of Remonstrants be “buried in perpetual oblivion,” the current treatment will seek to honor their wishes as best as possible. After all, “Remonstrants" means “forceful demonstrators,” and since they were forcefully demonstrating against confessional, reformed theology, it is fitting to denounce their intended goal as expressed by their name. What is more, the Arminians sought to resist the

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ecclesiastical tradition ...